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Halton police's capital projects move forward By Tim Foran CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Four major capital projects for new or renovated police facilities with an early esti- mated cost of $45 million - excluding the price for land acquisition - took another step forward at the recent Halton Regional Police Services Board meeting. The board endorsed recommendations included in a staff report to move forward in the design process for the renovations over the next year to both Milton's 12 Division and Halton Regional Police headquarters in Oakville. It also voted to examine the possible relo- cation of 11 Division in Georgetown and find and price out close to 10 acres of land in mid- Halton for a massive, new $34.5 million cen- tralized services facility The boards specific directions included: • Directing consultant AECOM Inc. to finalize the design elements that should be included in the renovation of Miltons 12 Division building. The board will review those recommendations before tendering goes out early next year. The police services 2009 budget already includes $1.25 million for this project, but an architectural consult- ant retained by the police service this year indicated a further $300,000-plus in modifi- cations should be considered. AECOM will review those suggestions, determine if they're justified and report back to the board on available funding to cover the extra costs. • Halting further investigation into the renovation of Georgetowns 11 Division in favour of working with the Town of Halton Hills and other potential partners to research development opportunities on the existing 11 Division property and the potential to relocate the division to another location in Georgetown. The police services 2011 budg- et had forecast just under $2 million to reno- vate and expand the existing building on Guelph Street. However, due to construction challenges presented by the 30-year-old building, the architectural consultant has now estimated the project to cost close to $4.3 million. To design and construct a new building of a similar size on a different site in Georgetown would cost about $7.3 million, the consultant estimated. The staff report to the board stated the Town of Halton Hills is interested in the existing 11 Division site for a possible expansion of neighbouring com- munity facilities. The future expansion or relocation of 11 Division will also have to take into account Halton Regions plan for Halton Hills, especially Georgetown, to grow by more than 20,000 people between 2021 and 2031, the report noted. Contracting an architectural company to complete the detailed design for the realignment of space within Halton Regional Police headquarters on Bronte Road in Oakville. The board will review updated project cost estimates before issuance of a construction tender. The scrvices regional investigative services unit and training bureau will be moving from headquarters to the new 20 Division in Oakville in early 2010, alleviating existing overcrowding, according to the report. A consultant has estimated the cost to realign space within headquarters would cost just under $2 mil- lion, which is within the approved 2010 cap- ital budget for this project. • Directing staff to work with Halton Region to investigate the availability and cost for land in mid-Halton that could house a centralized services facility Such a facility would allow for the consolidation of special- ized functions such as archives and property storage, a training centre, a firing range, and regional emergency services such as the canine unit in one centrally located building, à according to the report. Moving those func- tions out of divisions and headquarters would extend the life of existing buildings and improve operational efficiency, the • see LOWER on page 13 pc ,$napMton, Milton 81/v ACunosittes, PaM% s eb Design, lhie Shopping Newa PLATINUM SPONSORS: * Home Depot, Milton Comnmunity Fund, James Snow Self * Storage, Tim Hortons, Heather Solie - State Farm lnsurance GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS: j p toEaton (Cutier-Hammer), Manheimn Toronto, Sobev's, Mike and more... & Pa Lazar, Food Bascs, Metro, Troys Der L Food & off our Confeconery, Milton Lions Club, Troys Bar & Grill, Milton BIA regular pricesSILVER VEL SPONSORS: on selected Mercer & Mercer, Royal Canadian on, Tonner Signs, Milton Mail, Sam-Son Farm, Marcucci Costumes, Roxul fASHN & BASSHOMt Columbus, Granite Ridg, Austen & ItorageTim orto H e iS obnleInsuranceAimLock& Sfe